"He's had good days and bad days," said Wedge. "I think he's been a little tentative defensively. He's shown signs offensively. I want to see him be more consistent with his offense and defense."

Marte is a marked man. He's out of options, which means the Indians must keep him in the big leagues, trade him, or risk losing him on waivers. A natural third baseman, Marte is working out at first base and in the outfield. He's only taken fly balls twice this spring.

The Indians are using him at different positions to make him more valuable should he make the final 25-man roster.

"I know he's a better defensive player than we've seen this spring," said Wedge. "He can't get caught up in worrying about this, that and the other."

Marte is hitting .185 (5-for-27) with two doubles, one homer and three RBI. He's made two errors.

"I know I have to show them I can play," said Marte. "I'm just trying to go out, not think about too much and enjoy the game."

CHA-CHING: It pays to be in the big leagues.

Jensen Lewis and Aaron Laffey signed split contracts with the Indians. Lewis will make $99,700 in the minors and $393,000 in Cleveland. Laffey will make $62,500 in the minors and $393,000 in Cleveland.

WELCOME ABOARD: Wedge thinks training with the Reds in Goodyear, Ariz., is a good idea. The Indians will move to Goodyear next year and the city just came up with $33 million to bring in the Reds in 2010. Goodyear still has to negotiate a lease with the Reds.

"I think it would be a great thing for the state of Ohio's baseball fans," said Wedge. "It's definitely an advantage to have two teams in one complex. If you have to put together a B game, you have another team right there."

ADIOS: Right-hander Brian Slocum and left-hander Tony Sipp were sent to Class AAA Buffalo on Thursday.

Slocum strained his right groin muscle Wednesday night before facing Atlanta at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista. He lasted two-thirds of an inning before Jeff Harris replaced him.

"I had a pity party for myself after the game, but I'm all right now," said Slocum, who missed much of last season with hamstring and elbow injuries. "I've just got to keep going."

Slocum strained the groin warming in the bullpen before the start.

Sipp is still recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.

BAD NEWS: Former Tribe lefty Brian Anderson, trying to make a comeback with Tampa Bay, left Wednesday's game against the Yankees with a sore left elbow after facing just two batters. Aching legs:Franklin Gutierrez has had a couple of days off because of tightness in his legs. Wedge said he could play tonight against the Nationals.

He did not play Wednesday or Thursday.

OLD FRIENDS: Toronto's starting infield includes former Indians Joe Inglett at second, John McDonald at short and Hector Luna at third. Take it easy: While scouts following the Tribe have said that Lewis isn't throwing as hard as he did last year, Wedge is not concerned.

"I think you could say the same thing about a lot pitchers in spring training," said Wedge. "You don't expect him to be Opening Day ready right now. He's moving forward like everybody else."

LONG TIME COMING:Travis Hafner's two-run homer in the third inning Thursday against Toronto was his first in spring training since 2006. Hafner is hitting .444 (8-for-18) with eight RBI.

"He's really swinging the bat well," said Wedge.

BAD OUTING: Lefty Aaron Fultz's performance against Atlanta on Wednesday has to qualify for one of the ugliest pitching lines of spring training. He allowed nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits in one-third of an inning. He gave up six singles, one double and one homer.

Most of the hits came early in the count so the Indians had to keep him in to build up his pitch count. An error by Asdrubal Cabrera didn't help, but lefties had four of the hits.

"It was one of those spring-training outings," said Wedge. "His stuff was flat. I'll be curious to see his next outing."

NEXT: Jeremy Sowers will face Washington's Matt Chico at Viera, Fla., at 1:05 p.m. today. At Chain of Lakes Park, Jake Westbrook will face Washington's Jason Bergmann tonight a 7:05. . . . Former Indian Charlie Nagy was introduced during the game Thursday and got a nice round of applause from the crowd of 5,398. He's in camp as a guest instructor.

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